Reel



M. P. SIEGER REEL r 62 as "f 50 I c9 7 94 aa J8 I l "a? W/TESSES INVENT OR. I W mfiwnfluw 16, ATTORNEYS.

av. 17, 1936. M. P. SIEGER REEL 3 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed June 12, 1935 INVENTOR.

WITH/55555 Wm.

A; ATTORNEYS.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 M. P. SIEG ER REEL Filed June 12, 1935 Nov. 17, 1936.

Patented Nov. 17, 1936 UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE REEL Application June 12, 1935, Serial No. 26,100

18 Claims.

This invention relates to drums or reels and more particularly deals with reels adapted to pull and coil wide metal strip under tension.

In the manufacture of metal strip it has long been the practice to pull the strip from the forming rolls under high tension which has resulted in improved physical characteristics of the strip. However, in recent years the demand for and the production of wider and wider strip has been attended with the problem of providing suitable mechanism for pulling and coiling relatively wide strip metal. The mechanism now ordinarily employed for simultaneously coiling and pulling wide strip directly from the mills is an enlargement of the coiling apparatus of known type such as used for coiling strip material under relatively low tension or winding narrower strip at higher tensions.

Since the strip is pulled and coiled under high tension the reel structure is subjected to forces of great magnitude, particularly where wide strip is coiled. This is because the plurality of convolutions of strip wound under tension exert relatively high pressure on the reel due to the fact that each convolution of strip might be said to act as a shrunk-on hoop or cylinder so that when a plurality of convolutions are wound on top-of each other the reel proper is subjected to very high radial and circumferential compressive forces. These compressive forces cause each of the reel segments to be forced. inwardly of the reel at high pressure. The collapsing mechanism is accordingly subjected to severe stresses, wear and unit surface pressure, and even the shaft supporting the reel segments encounters not only increased torsional forces but large bending stresses, and where the reel and the material coiled are relatively wide the stresses may cause reel failure. Ordinarily it is undesirable to increase the diameter of a reel in proportion to its width increase in adapting the reel to handle wide strip because the coiled material becomes excessively large in overall diameter. Thus the necessity of maintaining wide reel diameters small has added difficulties in reel construction and successful operation.

Moreover in known types of reels when employed for pulling and coiling wide strip under i0 high tension the very material compressive forces on the reel segments so increase the frictional resistance against reel collapse that it is diflicult to collapse the reels to remove the coiled material.

It is accordingly the object of the invention to provide an improved collapsible reel which is adapted to pull and coil particularly wide metal strip or the like under tension with the reel structure being readily collapsible when desired and with the reel being simple, rugged, long-lived,

easily operated, and relatively inexpensive in 5 initial and maintenance costs.

Following the teaching of my invention, suitable wide reels can be provided without material increase in diameter if the central shaft supporting the reel segments is directly supported by all of the segments to eliminate bending of the shaft and if frictional resistance against collapse under high coil compressive forces is overcome by employing the forces themselves for this purpose.

Among the best of the known reels is that disl5 closed and claimed in Talbot Patent No. 1,905,192 and the principles of my invention can be readily applied to the Talbot structure to improve it for wide, high-tension, coiling work. Hence the invention will be particularly described as incorporated with the structure of the Talbot patent.

In the practice of my invention I provide a collapsible strip reel which is adapted for pulling and coiling sheet material under relatively high tension with the reel structure including a central driven shaft having cam surfaces thereon with a radially fixed segment mounted on the shaft and adapted to have limited relative rotary movement on the shaft and with a plurality of radially movable segments completing the contour of the reel. Means are positioned between the radially movable segments and the cam surfaces of the shaft for controlling the radial position of the radially movable segments. The means are positioned to create a torque tending to move the shaft in a relatively rotary direction with respect to the segments to thereby collapse the reel. The torque is substantially equal to or slightly less than the frictional forces resisting relative rotary movement of the shaft and segments. The radially fixed segment of the reel is formed with a bearing surface engaging the central shaft so that the shaft is supported against bending forces applied to it through the means positioning the radially movable segments. Other features of novelty and simplicity of construction will appear more completely as the detailed description of the invention proceeds.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a transverse crosssectional view, taken on line II of Fig. 3, and illustrating the principles of the invention applied to a particular reel construction with the reel shown in expanded, coiling position; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 except that the reel parts a e illustrated in collapsed position; and Fig. 3

bearing and rolling pressures.

is a longitudinal cross-sectional view through the reel illustrated in Fig. 1 and taken on line HIIII thereof.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings includes a central shaft I6 driven by any suitable means such as an electric motor (not shown). The shaft or the motor is preferably provided with braking means (not shown) which assists in collapsing the reel as hereafter described. The shaft I6 may be journaled in any suitable manner but is preferably carried in bearings I2 only at one end of the shaft to allow the shaft to overhang and thereby provide for ready removal of the coiled material from the reel. The shaft I6 carries a radially fixed reel segment I4 which is provided with hubs or dead eyes I5 and I6, at the ends of the segment, that surround the shaft and are journaled thereon with bushings I1 and I8. A cap I9 and associated parts are removably secured to the dead eye I6 to cover the unsupported end of the shaft.

The radially fixed segment I4 carries a plurality of radially movable segments 26 and 2| which'are pivotally secured to the fixed segment I4 as by pins 22 and 23 carried in axially spaced sockets 24 formed on the ends of the movable segments. The pins 22 and 23 are received in bearing eyes 25 positioned between the sockets 24 and formed on the fixed segment I4. The pins 22 and 23 have a press fit in the sockets 24 and the bearing eyes 25 are provided with bushings 26 to permit radial movement of the movable segments 26 and 2|. The sockets 24 and. bearing eyes 25 extend in closely alternate position the full length of the reel to provide the greatest possible bearing support for the hinged connection. This is quite important due to the tremendous pressures to which the reel is subjected.

The adjacent ends of the radially movable segments are formed with interfitting rabbeted ends 32 and a bridging plate 34 is secured to the movable segment 26 to span the rabbeted ends. Springs 36, secured at their ends to pins 38 carried in the movable segments 26 and 2|, serve to resiliently urge them to the collapsed position shown in Fig. 2.

Means are provided for controlling the radial position of the movable segments 26 and 2I and for effecting collapsing and expanding of the reel. These means comprise, in the form of the inven tion shown, hardened-surface rollers 46 carried on the roller bearings 42 and mounted on pins 44 secured in flanges 46 formed integrally with the segments 26 and 2| with the rollers 46 being positioned between the flanges 46 as best seen in Fig. 3. The rollers 46 are positioned the full length of the reel so as to reduce concentrated The rollers 46 engage with the shaft I6 which is formed with cam surfaces so that relative rotary movement of the shaft and the segments will effect collapsing and expanding movement thereof. The cam surfaces of the shaft I6 are preferably made in the form of removable hardened-metal blocks 56 and 52 carried in appropriate slots in the shaft. The cam blocks are formed with certain portions of their surfaces extending radially beyond other portions so that movement of the shaftand blocks relative to the rollers 46 moves the rollers and their segments 26 and 2| toward and from the shaft I6. In order that the segment 2| will move radially inwardly during the collapsing movement of the reel just prior to the commencement of the radially inward movement of the reel segment 26, which is necessary to permit the 001- lapsing of the reel as shown in Fig. 2, the low portion of cam block 56 is positioned to engage with its associated rollers 46 prior to engagement of the low portion of cam block 52 and its associated rollers 46.

A particularly important feature of the invention is that the engagement between the rollers 46 and the cam blocks 56 and 52 is not on a center line connecting the axis of the shaft I6 and the pins 44. The contact between the cam blocks and the rollers is to one side of the center line so that forces carried between the rollers 46 and the shaft apply torque to the shaft tending to rotate it relative to the segments. This torque results due to forming the cam blocks 52 with curvatures generated from points lying to one side of the axis of the shaft. Thus, as seen in Fig. l, the most radially extending portion of the cam block 52 is generated from a radius thrown from the ofi-center point 66. The most radially extending portion of the cam block 56 is generated from a radius thrown from the off-center point The particular position of the points 66 and 62, and thus the effective torque tending to rotate the shaft I6 relative to-the reel segments, is very v carefully determined for each particular reel structure so that this torque substantially balances or is slightly less than the frictionalresistance of the reel parts against collapse. 'In this manner a small additional force effects collapse of the reel regardless of the pressure applied to the reel surface from winding strip under high tension thereon. This result occurs due to the fact that the pressure on the reel is a direct factor of the frictional resistance and a direct factor of the torque so that once the proper relation of torque-resistance balancing has been established the same relation will hold regardless of the pressure.

The reel is adapted to receive and clamp on the end of strip to be coiled thereon and mechanism for this purpose includes a plurality of axially spaced bell cranks I6 journaled on apin I2 secured in axially spaced flanges 14 formed integral with the radially fixed segment I4. The bell cranks I6 carry a clamping plate I6 which is received in a slot I8 formed in the fixed segment I 4. The clamping plate I6 has a nose portion 86 which cooperates with an anvil bar 82 secured in the slot I8 so that strip material 8 positioned in the slot I8 will be clamped between the anvil bar 82 and nose 86 in a kinked position which will prevent its removal from the clamping means when the bell cranks I6 are in clamping position. A flap 84 is pivotally mounted upon a pin 86 carried in the radially fixed reel segment I4 with the flap normally being urged to the fullline position shown in Fig. 2 by means of a spring 88. During the-coiling of the strip S the flap 84 is moved by the strip itself down to the full-line position shown in Fig. l to complete the reel contour.

The shaft I6 is provided with axially-spaced driving lugs 96 which are received in the angles of the bell cranks I6 and which engage the arms of the bell cranks to clamp or unclamp the strip and to drive the reel in the direction of the arrow during normal coiling. The shaft I6 is also formed with a stop 92 which together with the driving lugs 96 form limits for the relatively rotary movement of the shaft I6 and the reel segments as requisite for collapsing and expanding the reel.

Another important feature of the invention is the provision of equal and full support for the shaft Hi to avoid bending stresses therein. To this end the segment Hi is provided with a radially inwardly extending portion which is formed with a bearing surface 94, part of which is carried on the flanges M. Bearing plates 96 are secured to the shaft Ill positioned between the driving lugs 80 and engage with the bearing surface 94. The plates 95 are preferably spaced apart as described but may comprise a single long plate secured to the shaft and notched at one side to fit around the driving lugs 90. With either construction the bearing surface is lubricated as by passage 98. By the constructions just described the shaft I0 is given support over its entire length at a point substantially diametrically opposite of the radial forces from the rollers 40 as created by compressive stresses from a plurality of convolutions of strip wound on the reel under high tension.

The radially fixed reel segment l4 may have means associated therewith for braking the reel segments or holding them against rotation and for this purpose the dead eye If: on the fixed segment is illustrated as mounting a brake drum Hill which may be used to assist in collapsing the reel if desired'or necessary. Thus the drum can be gripped and the drive to the shaft Ill reversed to positively collapse the reel if the case should possibly arise where the momentum collapsing means fails to function or its use is undesirable.

It is believed that the operation of the apparatus will be generally understood from the foregoing description. However, briefly it comprises inserting the end of a metal strip S in the reel slot 18 with the reel parts in the collapsed position shown in Fig. 2. v The shaft I0 is then driven in the direction shown by the arrow to move the driving lugs 90 into engagement with the bell cranks I0 which clamps he end of the strip S, as shown in Fig. 1, and also then begins to turn the reel segments and coil the strip on the reel. When the shaft I0 is moved relative to the reel segments as just described, the cam b'iacks 50 and 52 engage with the rollers 40 to move the radiallymovable reel segments 20 and 2| to the expanded position shown in Fig. 1. Shaft I0 is then continuously driven at the desired speed until the strip is coiled on the reel. The apparatus can be used for coiling at low tensionbut is particularly adapted to pull and coil the strip under relatively high tension.

When the strip has been completely coiled on the reel, the shaft I0 is braked either by dynamic tum of the reel collapses the reel regardless of the high frictional forces set up in the reel due to the considerable pressures eifectecl by the coiled strip. with the reel collapsed the coil can be readily removed and the apparatus is then ready for another coiling operation. The brake Hill on the reel can also be used as an alternative for collapsing if desired.

During coiling under high tension which tends to push the radially movable segments 20 and 2| of the reel inwardly against the shaft III with high radial forces, particularly where the reel is relatively wide, the shaft is kept from bending under these forces by provision of the bearing between the fixed segment II and shaft Hi. When the forces tending to bend the shaft and carried by the bearing means just described are increased due to the high tension coiling of material on the reel, the torsional forces tending to rotate the shaft and collapse the reel are also simultaneously increased. Thus the relation of torque and frictional resistance is maintained constant regardless of the particular type of strip coiled or the tension at which it is coiled.

It will be evident from the foregoing description that an improved reel structure has been provided wherein collapsing of the reel can be readily obtained regardless of the forces on the reel structure due to coiling strip under high tension. The reel structure is adapted to pull and coil strip or the like and specifically wide metal strip under high tension without failure. The structure avoids concentrated unit area pressures and is simple, rugged, easily operated and relatively inexpensive and functions substantially automatically to effect collapsing of the reel after coiling. Although the apparatus has been particularly described for pulling and coiling wide metal strip under high tension it should be appreciated that it is broadly applicable wherever a collapsible drum or reel is desired and that various materials can be wound, wrapped, or placed on the reel with or without tension and with the material and the reel being of substantially any width.

While in accordance with the patent statutes one embodiment of the principles of the invention has been particularly illustrated and described it should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto or thereby but is defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A collapsible reel comprising a shaft, a reel section journaled on the shaft and with bearing support over substantially the full length of the shaft, means for limiting relative, rotary movement of the section on the shaft, a pair of other reel sections each pivotally secured to the firstnamed section and together with the first-named section defining the reel circumference, a sliding rabbeted joint at the adjacent edges of the-other reel sections, a bridging plate secured to one of the other reel sections and spanning the rabbeted joint, spring means connecting the other reel sections and tending to collapse the reel, rollers joumaled on the unpivoted ends of the other reel sections substantially the full length thereof, cams on the shaft with the rollers being urged against'the cams by the spring means, said cams having a contour such that relative, rotary movement of the shaft and the first-named section effects radial movement of the rollers and the collapse or the expansion of the reel, said rollers contacting with the cams at points to one side of lines joining the axis of the rollers and the shaft so that external pressure on the reel tends to turn the shaft relative to the reel sections to collapse the reel, said shaft-rotating tendency being substantially counterbalanced by the friction in the bearings supporting the firstnamed reel section on the shaft, and means controlled by relative, rotary movement of the shaft and reel sections for clamping on the end of material to be wound on the reel.

2. A collapsible reel comprising a shaft, a reel section journaled on the shaft, means for limiting relative, rotary movement of the section on the shaft, a pair of other reel sections each pivotally secured to the first-named section and together with the first-named section defining the reel circumference, spring means connecting the other reel sections and tending to collapse the reel, rollers journaled on the unpivoted ends of the other reel sections, cams on the shaft with the rollers being urged against the'cams by the spring means, said cams having a contour such that relative, rotary movement of the shaft and the firstnamed section effects radial movement of the rollers and the collapse or the expansion of the reel, said rollers contacting with the cams at an angle so that external pressure on the reel tends to turn the shaft relative to the reel sections to collapse the reel, said shaft-rotating tendency being substantially sumcient to counter-balance the friction in the bearings supporting the ,firstnamed reel section on the shaft.

3. A collapsible reel comprising a rotatable drum including radially fixed and radially movable sections, spring means connecting the movable'reel sections and tending to collapse the reel, rollers journaled on the movable reel sections, a shaft extending through the rotatable drum, cams on the shaft with the rollers being urged against the cams by the spring means, said cams having a contour such that relative, rotary movement of the shaft and the drum effects radial movement of the rollers and the collapse or the expansion of the reel, said rollers contacting with the cams with a non-radial componentso that external pressure on the reel tends to turn the shaft relative to the drum to collapse the reel, said shaft-rotating tendency being substantially counterbalanced by the friction in the bearings between the reel sectionsand the shaft.

4. A collapsible reel comprising a shaft, a reel section journaled on the shaft and with bearing support over substantially the full length of the shaft, a pair of other reel sections each pivotally secured to the first-named section and together with the first-named section defining the reel circumference, a slidingrabbeted joint at the adjacent edges'of the other reel sections, a bridging plate secured to one of the other reel sections and spanning the rabbeted joint, spring means connecting the other reel sections and tending to collapse the reel, rollers journaled on' the unpivoted ends of the other reel sections, cams on the shaft with the rollers being urged against the cams by the spring means, said cams having a contour such that relative, rotary movement of the shaft and the firstnamed section effects radial movement of, the rollers and the collapse -or the expansion of the reel, and means controlled by relative, rotary movement of the shaft and reel sections for'clamping on the end of material to be wound on the reel.

5. A collapsible reel comprising a shaft, a reel section journaled on the shaft and with hearing support over substantially the full length of the shaft, a pair of other reel sections each pivotally secured to the-flrst-named-section, a sliding rahbeted' joint at the adjacent edges of the other reel sections, a bridging plate secured to one of the other reel sections and spanning the rabbeted joint, spring means connectingthe other reel sections and tendingto collapse the reel, rollers journaled on the unpivoted ends of the other reel sections substantially over the full length thereof, cams on the shaft with the rollers being urged against the cams by the spring means, said cams having a contour such that relative, rotary movement .of the shaft and the first-named section effects radial movement of the rollers and the collapse or the expansion of the reel.

6. In combination in a collapsible drum, a radially fixed segment, radially movable segments pivotally secured to the fixed segment, a shaft journaled in the radially fixed segment, cam means positioned between the-shaft and the movable ends of the movable segments so that relative, rotary movement of the shaft and the segments effects expansion and collapse of the drum, the contact of the cam means between the shaft and the segments being at an angle. to the radial so that pressure on the outside of the drum tends to turn the shaft relative to thesegments to collapse the drum, the angle being such at the engaging cam means that the forces tending to collapse the drum substantially overcome the frictional forces resisting collapse whereby the drum can becollapsed with a minimum of additional application of force.

'7. In combination in a collapsible drum, a shaft, a radially fixed segment associated with the shaft for relatively rotary movement therewith, radially movable segments pivotally secured to the fixed segment, means positioned between the shaft and the movable ends of the movable segments so that relative, rotary movement of the shaft and the segments will effect expansion and collapse of the drum, the contact of the means between the shaft and the segments being at an angle to the radial so that pressure on the outside of the drum tends to turn the shaft relative to the segments to collapse the drum, the angle being such that the forces tending to collapse the drum substantially overcome the frictional forces resisting collapse whereby the drum can be collapsed with a minimum of additional application of force.

8. A collapsible strip reel adapted for pulling and coiling strip and the like under relatively high tension comprising a central driven shaft having cams thereon,,a radially fixed segment mounted on the shaft and adapted to have limited relatively rotary movement on the shaft, a plurality of radially movable segments completing the contour of the reel, means positioned between the radially movable segments and the cams on the shaft and in engagement with the cams for controlling the radial position of the radially movablesegments, said means positioned to effect a torque tending to move the shaft in a relatively rotary direction with respect to the segments to collapse the reel when strip is coiled under tension on the reel, the torque being substantially equal to the frictional forces resisting relative, rotary movement of the shaft and segments.

9.,A collapsible strip reel adapted for pulling and ceiling strip or like material under relatively high tension comprising a radially fixed segment, a plurality of radially movable segments completing the contour' of the reel, relatively rotatable means carried by the segments, means positioned between the radially movable segments and the relatively rotary means for controlling the radial position of the radially movable segments, said means, when the reel is subjected to heavy compressive forces by coiling strip thereon, being positioned to effect a torque tending to move the relatively rotary means in a relatively rotary direction with respect to the segments to collapse the reel, the torque being substantially equal to the forces resistingirelative, rotary movement of the rotary means and thejreel segments.

10. A collapsible strip reel adapted for pulling and coiling strip under relatively high tension comprising a central driven shaft having cam surfaces thereon, a radially fixed segment mounted on the shaft and adapted to have limited relatively rotary movement on the shaft, a plurality of radially movable segments completing the contour of the reel, means positioned between the radially movable segments and the cam surfaces of the shaft and in engagement with the cam surfaces for controlling the radial position of the radially movable segments, said means positioned to effect a non-radial movement of the engaging surfaces in the collapse of the reel, the means positioning the radially movable segments being relatively circumferentially spaced from the most radially extending areas of their respective contacting cam surfaces so that certain of the movable segments move radially inwardly before the others during collapsing of the reel.

11. A collapsible reel for pulling and coiling strip or the like under relatively high tension including ashaft, a plurality of reel segments mounted on the shaft and adapted to have relative, rotary movement on the shaft, means associated with the shaft for moving and holding certain of the segments radially to expand and collapse the reel, and bearing means mounted on a non-radially movable segment and supporting the shaft against forces applied to it through the means for radially moving certain of the segments.

12. An automatically collapsible reel for pulling and coiling strip under tension including a rotatable member, a radially fixed reel section and a radially movable reel section journaled for slight relatively rotary movement on the rotatable member, a cam surface associated with the rotatable member, roller means carried by the radially movable reel section and engaging with the cam surface in a non-radial direction so that when strip is coiled on the reel under tension a turning force on the rotatable member results which is substantially equal to the friction against turning, bearing means in addition to those journaling the radially fixed section and positioned between and abutting against the radially fixed section and the rotatable member for substantially the entire length of the section, and means for releasably locking the end of a strip in one of the reel sections.

13. A collapsible reel for pulling and coiling strip or the like under tension including a radially fixed reel section and a radially movable reel section, a member journaled for relatively rotary movement on the sections, a cam surface associated with the member, means carried by the radially movable reel section and engaging with the cam surface in a non-radial direction, and bearing means in addition to those journaling the member and positioned between and abutting against the radially fixed section and the member for substantially the entire length of the section.

14. A collapsible reel for pulling and coiling strip under tension including a rotatable member, a radially fixed reel section and a radially movable reel section journaled for limited relatively rotary movement on the rotatable member, a cam surface associated with the rotatable member, means carried by the radially movable reel section and engaging with the cam surface so that when strip is coiled on the reel a turning force on the rotatable member is efiected tending to turn the rotatable member to permit radially inward movement of the radially movable section, and bearing means in addition to those journaling the radially fixed section and positioned between and abutting against the radially fixed section and the rotatable member for 'sub-' stantially the entire length of the section.

15. A collapsible reel for pulling and coiling relatively wide strip under tension including a rotatable member, a radially fixed reel section and a radially movable reel section journaled for limited relatively rotary movement on the rotatable member, a cam surface associated with the rotatable member, and means carried by the radially movable reel section and engaging with the cam surface in such position that compressive forces on the reel ,efiect a turning force on the rotatable member tending to turn the retatable member to permit radially inward movement of the radially movable section.

16. An automatically collapsible reel for pulling and coiling strip under tension including a rotatable member, a radially fixed reel section and a radially movable reel section journaled for slight relatively rotary movement on the rotatable member, and bearing means in addition to those journaling the radially fixed section and positioned between and abutting against the radially fixed section and the rotatable member for substantially the entire length of the section.

17. A reel comprising a central shaft, a hub mounted for relative rotation at each end of said shaft, a fixed segment supported by said hubs, a collapsible segment pivoted at one end to said fixed segment, said shaft being disposed upon relative movement to engage and expand the free end of said collapsible segment, means interposed between the fixed segment and the shaft intermediate said hubs to support said shaft against deflection caused by the force required to maintain said free end in its expanded position.

18. A reel comprising a central shaft, a hub mounted for relative rotation at each end of said shaft, a fixed segment supported by said hubs, a collapsible segment pivoted to said fixed segment, said shaft being disposed upon relative movement to engage and expand the free end of said collapsible segment, said shaft being supported intermediate said hubs by said fixed segment.

MAURICE P. SIEGER. 

